DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 20: Jamie Foxx on the red carpet at the Global Down Syndrome 10th anniversary BBBY fashion show at Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel on October 20, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tom Cooper/Getty Images for Global Down Syndrome Foundation)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 20: Jamie Foxx and Andrew Goodspeed at the Global Down Syndrome 10th anniversary BBBY fashion show at Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel on October 20, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tom Cooper/Getty Images for Global Down Syndrome Foundation)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 20: Jamie Foxx and Analise Foxx on the red carpet at the Global Down Syndrome 10th anniversary BBBY fashion show at Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel on October 20, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tom Cooper/Getty Images for Global Down Syndrome Foundation)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 20: Jamie Foxx and Analise Foxx on the red carpet at the Global Down Syndrome 10th anniversary BBBY fashion show at Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel on October 20, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tom Cooper/Getty Images for Global Down Syndrome Foundation)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 20: DeOndra Dixon at the Global Down Syndrome 10th anniversary BBBY fashion show at Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel on October 20, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tom Cooper/Getty Images for Global Down Syndrome Foundation)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 20: David Pearce walks the runway at the Global Down Syndrome 10th anniversary BBBY fashion show at Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel on October 20, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tom Cooper/Getty Images for Global Down Syndrome Foundation)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 20: Amanda Booth with her advocate friends on the red carpet at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation 10th anniversary BBBY fashion show at Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel on October 20, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tom Cooper/Getty Images for Global Down Syndrome Foundation)

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 20: Amanda Booth with Cecilia McGarrity walk the runway at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation 10th anniversary BBBY fashion show at Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel on October 20, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Tom Cooper/Getty Images for Global Down Syndrome Foundation)

This past weekend, Denver was all a buzz as the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (Global) rang in its 10th Anniversary raising an outstanding $2.4 million, bringing the event’s total raised over the past decade to over $18 million. As the largest fundraiser for Down syndrome in the world, the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show supports life-saving and transformative medical care and research. The marquee event welcomed over 1,400 guests from 23 states and 9 countries to the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.

“What Global is doing for people with Down syndrome, including my sister DeOndra, is amazing – the science, the medical care and the important awareness,” said Foxx, who has been a dedicated supporter of Global from the start. “ And you know, this is just the beginning – what we’re going to accomplish in the next ten years will be so important as our loved ones with Down syndrome age.”

The Denver Broncos showed up with major support from Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, quarterback Case Keenum, placekicker Brandon McManus, running back Phillip Lindsay, safety Justin Simmons, and tight end Jeff Heuerman. This year, Global had 27 self-advocate models, including the 2018 Ambassador Sam Levin, as well as the return of past Ambassadors: Chase Turner Perry, Sophia Kay Whitten, Katherine Vollbracht Winfield, Clarissa Capuano, Louis Rotella IV, and Marcus Sikora.Actors Colin Farrell and Zack Gottsagen [RC1] received Global’s prestigious Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award (Q Award) to standing ovations. In his acceptance speech Gottsagen said, “People with disabilities need to work together with our friends for inclusion and equal opportunities. So don’t forget to vote! I have voted in every election since I was 18 years old.” He then decided to start the catwalk early and while receiving his Q Award he was surprised by friends Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson who danced down the runway with him.

Kacey Bingham and Brittany Bowlen served as the 2018 Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show chairs, carrying on the legacy of their mothers Kay Burke and Annabel Bowlen, who have been involved with Global since its inception. In support of the 10th Anniversary, past event chairs showed up in spades including Peter Kudla, Anna and John J. Sie, Sharon Magness Blake and Ernie Blake, Ricki Rest, and Nancy Sevo.Entering its 10th year, Global is thriving. The millions raised at the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show every year help fund Global’s world-class and unprecedented Down syndrome research and medical care which is helping to increase lifespan and quality of life of people with the condition.

Global’s recent lobbying efforts to Congress and outreach to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) resulted in the first significant increase of NIH Down syndrome research funding in nearly 20 years, resulting from $35 million in 2017, to $58 million in 2018, to 98 million in 2019. Additionally, Global just opened its new Cherry Creek headquarters, which includes top-notch office facilities and a future education center of excellence supported by a generous grant from The Salah Foundation.The building will be a home for people with Down syndrome and their families, as well as a destination for inclusion, inspiration, and achievement for everyone. “Together, we are transforming and saving lives.

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